City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

Proofread By Thomas F

"I am stuck!" I said in deep frustration as all twelve aura layers collapsed around me.

After I left Archmage City, I made rapid progress, but over the past two months, I slowed down before stopping at this level and couldn't move forward.

I have reached a roadblock not only with the layers but with the other aura exercises as well.

'I had told you before. The first half of the twelve layers are the easiest; the other twelve are the real challenge."

"You will need to have a leap in understanding and control of the aura to make further progress,' informed Bell telepathically in a soothing voice.

She is not here with me in the mansion but in the legacy.

We communicate telepathically while she sees my progress through the skill. She could have come here, but we are maintaining distance.

Her identity is extremely sensitive. I cannot let people be interested in her and dig around.

She teaches me in person when I am in the legacy and uses the skill when I am in my house. Still, I wish she were here so that she could feel my frustration, not just my aura.

"I know, but it's been weeks since I made any progress!" I replied, with my voice reeking in desperation.

"Don't be too hard on yourself. You're making incredible progress, and I'm confident this setback won't last forever."

"Till then, just keep practicing without pushing yourself too hard,' she advised.

"Fine," I agreed.

I meditated with the help of skill and resumed practice again. This time, I didn't push. I just practiced while feeling the aura, trying to understand it.

Soon, the practice was over, and I walked into the shower.

Twenty minutes later, I left the room and headed to the kitchen, where Carla was already waiting for me. A few minutes after that, the nanny arrived with the children.

After breakfast, I walked out of the mansion and entered the carriage while Carla took them to school. I usually go with her, but not today.

I arrived from Panar at dawn and returned to my house. I wanted to go to the office directly, but it was too early.

I didn't go to the Legacy. I will go there at night and stay there the whole day.

The core of Mok's Tavern will be harvested tomorrow, and our method to accomplish that requires me to be there; I will likely be very tired when I am done.

The success of it is essential. My decision on Tranquill Bathhouse will depend significantly on what will happen tomorrow.

I looked out of the window and saw people everywhere.

The city had become crowded—not overcrowded, which would be bad—but crowded. Expansion had become necessary, but I didn't have enough money.

Carla will soon go to the merchant states and Namdar for the money and offer the same things for sale as we did to Owlspring.

I had hoarded the essences for the expansion, but I needed to use some of it for the academy.

There wasn't any choice. I could not continue with the contract, and nobody was willing to give me a loan, so I had to fund it with my own money.

I don't want to sell the essence because doing so might give others an idea of how much essence the establishment produces, but as I said, there is no choice.

This time, however, we're going to try a different approach—Carla's idea. If it works, it will be a tremendous help; if not, we'll sell the essence as originally planned.

Fortunately, another source of income has emerged: the mist goods. They've been generating significant revenue, especially after the new stores opened two months ago, driving up demand.

Panar will also contribute—not by giving money directly to the city, but by using its own resources, which will ease my financial burden.

I want it to be self-sufficient, and it will be. I just need to wait a little for it.

Soon, the carriage reached the city hall.

I got out and stepped inside. I nodded at the people as I walked inside before finally reaching my office.

"Has anything serious happened while I was gone?" I asked Lola as I sat down on my chair. "Yes, General Stone will tell you about it," she replied.

I knew the general subject, but I did not know all the details.

I didn't ask about it further and began reading through the files. Soon, I had read all three days' worth.

'Master Silver Chief Elar, Mr. Ammellus, and Mage Aldridge are here for you,' informed Jill. "Send them in," I replied.

Click!

The door opened, and three of them came inside.

"We will be done with the bridge in nine days," said Ammellus. He seemed confident about it.

"So, can we schedule the bridge opening for the 17th?" asked Lola. "Yes, we will be done by then," he replied, and she noted it down.

"Good. We need to open the bridge as soon as possible; the city needs it," I said. There was a moment of silence before Amellus spoke.

"I have selected the partner for the tower," he informed me, and my eyes lit up.

We have been looking for a partner for over two months. We wanted to choose wisely, and I didn't push hard because of the money crunch.

"Who is it?" I asked. "Seville Mora," he replied, and a surprise appeared on my face.

"They had never built a tower before," I said. I read a summary of every meeting and the portfolio and history of the companies we are interviewing.

Seville Mora is a new firm that is barely a decade old. They had never built a magic tower.

They had assisted, and the leaders worked for one of the premier tower-building firms before branching independently, but they had never built a tower.

"Yes, they never did, but they have assisted in many. Mora had built it when she worked at her old firm but didn't get credit for it," he replied, but I shook my head.

"It's very risky," I declined. I wanted to close the topic and ask him to choose someone with experience, but I stopped seeing his expressions.

I took a deep breath. Edmor is anything but an idiot. If he has chosen them, there must be a reason.

"Why do you think they could do it?" I asked finally. He didn't answer immediately. He thought for several seconds before opening his mouth.

"They cannot do it fully. Seville's forte is an elemental foundation, while Mora's is lay-line conducts. I, on the other hand, specialize in design and grid,"

"The three of us have enough knowledge to manage the rest of the small parts," he replied. His eyes burned in excitement.

This is what he specialized in. He used to work in Nehdis's magic tower division.

Tower design and magical configuration are his specialties. Magical configuration is also called grid.

Most tower designers specialize in it as it is intricately connected.

Valentina had told me he was very excited about it. He can't use Nehdis' designs or what they stole from him, but Valentina said he produced better ones in jail.

"You should understand the city barely has money. Giving them the project meaning would be letting the first timers build the world's most complex structure."

"The structure that is very complicated, expensive, and dangerous." "It is a massive risk. You are asking me to take Edmor," I said to him in all seriousness.

I am deadly serious about it.

The tower will cost more than the academy. Seeing the sheer amount of magical material they use in building things makes it very dangerous to create.

Those structures have exploded in times, more times than I could count. Killing hundreds and thousands of people.

The latest one was just a few years ago.

"I understand the risks associated with it, but I ask you to give me a chance. I will not disappoint you," he said with his eyes begging.

It is extremely important for him. To prove himself after what had happened to him.

He built the legacy, but it was just a building with magical material and more than average enchantments. The mage tower is the real test. If he did it, he would regain his self-respect and prove to the world that rejected him.

"What do you both think?" I asked Valentina and Mage Aldridge.

"At least let them work on the plan," said Valentina. "Their ideas are sound. It is a risk, but give them an opportunity," added Mage.

"Fine, Edmor. Design a plan," I said. Thank you, my lord. You will not regret it," he replied, tears welling up in his eyes.

I would still shut it down if I did not feel confident. I want to help him, but it is too much of a risk. I will not commit to it unless I really think that he could do it.

"How is the progress on the expansion plans?" I asked a few seconds later.

It is the city's expansion plan. Designing a city isn't his forte, but he didn't have to work on that much since we have the plans of Grandmaster Raldin, the original architect of the city.

Prince Grelt had ambitions for the city. He wanted it to expand beyond what he had built and made plans for it.

I was surprised to see those plans a few days after becoming Lord of the city. I thought it would be years before I even considered using them, but all it took was a single year.

"They are nearly ready. I will hand them to you in a week," he replied.

Tap on Patreon below to read over 20 Advanced Chapters. Become a Free Member and enjoy theCharacter Art, Maps, and other interesting things.